Kaito was drawn to the golden light of the Auriwren as it flew ahead, resembling a small sun contrasting against the vast blue sky. With each step he took on the jagged stones, he was painfully reminded that he was not in his VR pod; this was reality.
His mind was racing, however. Fear served no purpose in this situation; what he really needed was information.
"Auri," he directed his thoughts toward the creature. "Status. Full analysis."
There was no need for words. The LuminaDrive resonated within his mind, and a vivid 3D model of Auri materialized, slowly rotating before him. Rather than a simple list of stats, it was like a vibrant blueprint of light and energy.
[SPECIES: AURIWREN]
[LEVEL: 5]
[TYPE: LIGHT]
[GENDER: FEMALE]
[HP: 55/55]
[STA: 30/30]
[STR: 12]
[AGI: 22]
[DEX: 18]
[END: 15]
[LUM: 25]
[BND: 68%]
[COR: 2%]
The statistics were familiar, yet the situation felt completely off. Level 5? An S-rank starting out so low? And what did `COR` mean? He had never encountered that stat in any iteration of the game. A new line appeared, addressing his silent query.
[WARNING: AMBIENT CORRUPTION IN BLACK SPRAWL AFFECTS ALL LUMENKINS. MONITOR COR STAT CLOSELY.]
The Black Sprawl—a term drawn from the game's ancient lore, referring to a catastrophe that occurred a millennium ago. It was merely background lore, not an active gameplay feature. The game he had known revolved around vibrant arenas and competitive tournaments, devoid of corruption. But this world was a cruel and distorted version of what he thought he had mastered.
He forced his confusion aside. Adapting was essential. He shifted his focus to Auri's abilities.
[SKILLS:]
> Gleam Dart: Costs 5 STA. A concentrated burst of light.
> Pulse Chirp: Costs 3 STA. A sonic ping that enhances recall speed.
Skills consumed stamina, which was a resource he needed to manage wisely. He could work with that.
A gentle chirp brought him back to reality. Auri alighted softly on his shoulder, her warm feathers brushing against his cheek. He felt a wave of emotion flow through their bond—not in words, but pure sentiment. 'Trust. Safety. With you.'
A strange twinge hit him. He had always regarded his digital companions as just tools. But this connection felt different; it was an unrefined bond of trust. He tucked the feeling away—emotions could be a vulnerability. But the promise he felt was a strategy. He resolved to protect her.
They ventured deeper into the ruins, the air turning colder and a heavy silence surrounding them. Suddenly, Auri stilled on his shoulder, sending a low, urgent chirp through his mind. 'Danger. Heavy. Ground.'
Kaito froze, scanning the shadows between the towering pillars. A low rumble shook the stone floor.
Then, it emerged.
It was nothing like the fast, shadowy creatures from the game; this was a brute—a massive, boar-like Lumenkin made of earth and rock. Its hide was a rough patchwork of gravel, with jagged granite tusks and eyes glowing a dull, angry red.
The LuminaDrive immediately relayed the data.
[SPECIES: GRAVELHIDE]
[LEVEL: 10]
[TYPE: EARTH]
[HP: 120/120]
[STA: 70/70]
[STR: 28]
[AGI: 8]
[DEX: 10]
[END: 30]
[LUM: 5]
[COR: 60%]
Level 10—twice Auri's level. Its Strength and Endurance were substantial, but it couldn't match her Agility. It was a tank: powerful, slow, and resilient. The `COR` stat was also higher than Auri's—a sign of its corruption.
The Gravelhide snorted, sending up a cloud of dust, and scraped its hoof against the ground, producing a sound reminiscent of grinding stones as it prepared to charge.
In a split second, Kaito assessed the danger. He couldn't overpower it; he had to exploit its weaknesses.
[COMMAND: MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. AVOID CHARGE.]
A brief exchange of thoughts passed between them. Auri soared into the sky, a streak of gold. The Gravelhide charged, colliding with the pillar where Kaito had just stood. The entire structure groaned as dust and rubble plummeted.
It was strong, but it was also slow.
[COMMAND: GLEAM DART—GROUND. LEFT OF ITS PATH.]
Auri instantly comprehended. She dove, launching a bolt of light that hit the stone floor just as the Gravelhide turned. The flash blinded the creature momentarily, causing it to roar in surprise and anger.
[AURIWREN STA: 25/30]
"Now," Kaito thought, his internal voice steady. [COMMAND: NOW. THE UNDERBELLY.]
Auri adjusted her trajectory, swooping low to strike the softer belly of the creature with another `Gleam Dart`. The hide there was thinner, and the Gravelhide emitted a pained squeal.
[GRAVELHIDE HP: 105/120]
[GRAVELHIDE COR: 70%]
The damage was minor, yet the battle intensified its corruption. A red-bordered alert appeared in Kaito's vision.
[CORRUPTION THRESHOLD CROSSED. PURIFICATION IMPOSSIBLE. TERMINATION RECOMMENDED.]
Kaito's expression remained unchanged. He felt no empathy; the Gravelhide was a corrupted threat that couldn't be saved—it needed to be eliminated.
He scanned the battlefield rather than focusing on the creature. Above them, the ruin's ceiling was cluttered with heavy stone blocks and sharp stalactites. An idea sprang to mind—brutal, straightforward, and it would conserve Auri's stamina.
"Auri," he thought, issuing a calm command. [COMMAND: IGNORE THE BEAST. WEAKEN THE ROCK ABOVE IT. FOCUS YOUR BEAM.]
Auri chirped in agreement—'plan—accepted.' She positioned herself over the furious Gravelhide, still disoriented from the flash. She hovered, glowing as she gathered her energy before unleashing a focused beam of light that struck a colossal stalactite's base.
[AURIWREN STA: 15/30]
The rock began to fracture. Dust began to fall as the Gravelhide finally sensed the imminent danger, but it was too late.
With a final surge of power, Auri's beam broke the last support holding the stalactite in place.
Kaito didn't look back; he turned away, shielding Auri with his body as he sprinted for cover. The crashing noise was deafening, a cacophony of rock collapsing and splintering that reverberated throughout the ruins.
When the dust cleared, he glanced back. The Gravelhide was gone, crushed beneath the rubble—a chaotic resolution to a chaotic problem.
He approached the debris, and Auri landed wearily on his shoulder, her light dimmed. He checked her status.
[AURIWREN STA: 15/30]
He had expended half of her stamina in that single encounter. The cost had been excessive; he needed to act with greater caution.
He checked the timer displayed in his vision.
[TIME UNTIL NIGHTFALL: 3 HOURS 31 MINUTES]
The encounter had imparted a vital lesson. This world was no mere game. The creatures were not just rivals; they were genuine monsters, and darkness was approaching.